Spindlehead for tools

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a spindlehead for tools which may be inserted into a tool disk with holders provided for this purpose and whose chucking means for spindle ( 10 ) holding the shank of the tool is rotatably mounted in a second section ( 26 ) adjacent to the first end section ( 12 ) receiving the tool shank, with a spindle bearing ( 14 ), and with a coolant feed ( 34 ) guided at least in part in the spindlehead housing ( 16 ), coolant transfer for the respective tool being effected by way of at least one coolant channel ( 40, 42, 44 ) which applies an internal coolant feed ( 34 ) for the respective tool by way of a sealing device ( 52 ) with throttling point separated from parts of a drainage channel ( 46, 48, 50 ) and the sealing device ( 52 ) having at least one seal ( 54, 56 ) which encloses the spindle ( 10 ). In that the respective sealing ring ( 54, 56 ) is introduced into the spindlehead housing ( 16 ) so as to be longitudinally movable coaxially with the spindle axis ( 58 ), and in that, after longitudinal movement into a sealing position, the respective sealing ring ( 54, 56 ) separates the internal coolant feed ( 34 ) from the parts of the drainage channel ( 46, 48, 50 ) which may be associated with it, up to a leakage amount which may be specified, the accuracy of machining with the tool may be increased and the installation space available can be better used.

[0001] The invention relates to a spindlehead for tools which may be inserted into a tool disk with tool carriers provided for this purpose and to chucking means for the spindle holding the shank of the tool in a second end section adjoining the first end section rotatably mounted in the spindlehead housing, with a spindle bearing and with a coolant feed line guided at least in part in the spindlehead housing, the coolant being transferred over at least one coolant channel which represents an internal coolant feed line for the tool involved, the internal coolant feed line being separated from a drainage channel by way of a sealing device with throttle point, and the sealing device having at least one sealing ring which encloses the spindle.

[0002] DE 195 16 986 C2 discloses a spindlehead for tools which may be inserted into a tool disk of a turret with tool insertion holes as specified in DIN 69880 [German Industrial Standard 69880] (especially Part 6, March 2000, pages 2 and 4).

[0003] In addition, coolant transfer occurs in a spindlehead cover provided on the tool side in which an annular groove is provided, into which a coolant feed channel discharges, over which channel coolant is delivered internally for a particular tool. In the conventional solution the coolant transfer point is situated upstream from the spindle bearing and the annular groove is open up to the first end section and is provided with a connecting channel one end of which discharges into the annular zone of the first end zone surface oriented toward the annular groove and the other end of which discharges into a chucking means space of the spindle with which the inlet opening provided in the shank end of the coolant channel extending through the tool communicates. The annular groove itself is sealed from the exterior by an external split seal and from the interior in the direction of the spindle bearing by an internal split seal; both the external and the internal split seals are bounded by the external surface of the spindle and the internal surface of the spindlehead. This arrangement results in a creation of a spindlehead for tools with internal coolant feed which takes up little installation space on the tool disk. In addition, reliable sealing is ensured which in no way exposes the spindle bearing to damage by the coolant.

[0004] DE 38 24 427 A1 discloses a machine tool with a spindlehead carrier and a spindlehead mounted on this carrier and provided with a spindle. The drive shaft mounted in the spindlehead carrier is connected to the spindle by way of gears, bevel gears in particular. In the area of the gears an oil circulation space for lubrication of the gears is provided which is sealed from the stationary component of the spindlehead by sealing elements to which compressed air is applied by way of compressed air feed lines which feed compressed air by way of throttling ports to the front sealing surfaces of the sealing elements operating in conjunction with opposite rotating sealing surfaces. The pressure relationships and the line cross-sections selected are such that a sealing gap is present for the purpose of contact-free sealing between the rotating opposite sealing surfaces and the sealing surfaces of the sealing elements. Hence the conventional solution achieves oil lubrication through an oil circulation space; escape of oil at an undesirable location is prevented by sealing of the oil circulation space by compressed air. The compressed air introduced into the oil circulation space and the resulting excess pressure make certain that the oil lubricant will reach the gears to be lubricated; the oil circulation space is then filled with an oil and air mixture and the gears need not operate entirely in oil. The sealing gap in question of the respective sealing elements thus serves the purpose of delivery of lubricant for the gearing referred to.

[0005] DE 42 26 922 A1 discloses a generic spindlehead having a coolant device for supply of the respective boring and/or cutting tools with coolant and/or lubricant; the spindle is provided with an axial channel element fed by way of an opening in a stationary feed device for transfer of the coolant and/or lubricant to the tool/working area and the feed device and the spindle mesh to form a split seal coaxially. In the conventional solution leaks through the split seal are removed by way of a pressure relief space so as to flow to the exterior (virtually free of pressure) and this pressure relief space is sealed from the spindlehead housing downstream on the bearing side by another split seal. The coolant feed proper further requires delivery of compressed air for the conventional sealing solution; compressed air is applied to this split seal to support the sealing effect. The respective conventional solution in this embodiment requires much installation space and is cost-intensive in application and in maintenance.

[0006] With this state of the art taken as a basis, the object of the invention is further to optimize the conventional spindlehead solutions, and in particular to increase the accuracy of machining with the tool, achieve better use of available installation space, and lower manufacturing costs and potential maintenance costs. The object as formulated in these terms is attained by means of a spindlehead having the features specified in claim 1 in its entirety.

[0007] In that, as specified in the descriptive portion of claim 1, the respective sealing ring is guided coaxially and longitudinally so as to be displaceable with the spindle axis in the spindlehead housing and in that, after longitudinal displacement into a sealing position, the respective sealing ring separates the interior coolant feed, including a prescribable leakage amount, from the parts of the drain channel to be associated with the feed, the interior coolant feed from the area of the pressurized means for the shank of the tool may be transferred back in the opposite direction into the spindlehead housing, with the result that the spindle bearing itself can move further forward into the area of the pressurized means, so that the tool is better guided and supported by way of the spindle carrier and the spindle bearing, this being a situation which definitely favors machining accuracy.

[0008] Since the internal coolant feed may now take place exclusively centrally by way of the sealing device and along the longitudinal axis of the spindle, installation space is conserved and, in addition, a cost-effective solution is achieved, one which also noticeably lowers any subsequent maintenance costs.

[0009] Since the respective sealing ring of the sealing device may be displaced longitudinally, a kind of dynamic sealing is achieved which is automatically adapted to prescribed machining situations such as delivery of coolant lubricants, speed of spindle unit, etc. Because of the floating layout of the respective sealing ring, sealing is effected as a function of the pressure relationships and the quantity of coolant to be supplied, with the result that the optionally aggressive coolant cannot reach places which might be damaged by it, ones in the form of the spindle bearing, for example.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the spindlehead claimed for the invention, the sealing device has two sealing rings whose sealing surfaces are positioned opposite the spindlehead housing with their front sides facing away from each other. This permits a layout in which the respective sealing ring is guided over the external circumference along the spindlehead housing and can slide, generating little friction, on a cushion of coolant which produces internal feed of coolant over the spacing between the respective sealing ring and spindle. Sealing with a prescribed amount of leakage can then be effected by way of the front side of the sealing ring in question facing the spindlehead housing.

[0011] In another preferred embodiment of the spindlehead claimed for the invention the two sealing rings are connected to the coolant feed line on their sides facing each other, and axially there is present in the spindle an optional connection for internal coolant feed. This results in good control of the sealing rings by way of the coolant, as well as in the need for less installation space as a result of intervention of the internal coolant feed in the connection option, with the result that space is conserved.

[0012] In an especially preferred embodiment of the spindlehead claimed for the invention, each sealing ring has flexible sealing means on its external circumference, means which, resting on the spindlehead housing, exert a restoring force on the sealing rings which tends to keep the rings together. Dry operation of the spindlehead without coolant is also possible on the basis of this layout. The two sealing rings are held together and kept at a distance from the driven spindle both axially and radially so that to this extent no harmful friction occurs and the spindle can rotate freely in the spindle bearing.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment of the spindlehead claimed for the invention, the throttling point is in the case of the sealing rings in the form of lubricant pouches which, being mounted spaced at a distance from each other on the limiting surface of the sealing rings to allow passage of coolant, form a leakage point. A small leakage flow of coolant is built up by way of the lubricant pouches in question, but this flow is in the form of a pressure cushion such that the rotating spindle moves more or less free of friction inside the sealing rings mounted stationarily in the spindlehead housing. A sort of hydrostatic lubrication is thereby achieved. The respective leakage point discharges preferably into the drainage channel, which emerges from the spindlehead housing into the open by way of a longitudinal channel section extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the spindlehead claimed for the invention the sealing device encloses the spindle on the side facing away from the tool shank beyond the spindle bearing engaging the first end section. The sealing device is thus mounted between a first and a second end section of the actuatable body of the spindle in the spindlehead housing more or less in a manner so as to conserve space.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment of the spindlehead claimed for the invention, additional seals are present upstream and downstream from the spindle in the longitudinal direction, one of which seals the spindle from the sealing device. In this way lubrication of the spindle by way of the leakage points is sealed from the other parts of the spindle bearing. The layout as described preferably also makes it possible to connect the coolant feed radially from the spindlehead housing to a central supply point; this also conserves space and ensures dependable coolant supply.

[0016] The spindlehead claimed for the invention is described in detail in what follows with reference to the drawings, in outline and not drawn to scale,

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal section through an embodiment of the spindlehead;

[0018]FIGS. 2a, b, c presents a bottom view, side view, and top view in the line of vision of the left sealing ring of the sealing device shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] The spindlehead shown in FIG. 1 serves as holder of machining tools not shown, which tools are generally displaced in circulatory rotation for the purpose of machining. For this purpose a spindle 10 is rotatably mounted in the area of its front end section 12 by way of two roller bearings 14 in a spindlehead housing 16; both the inner bushing sleeves 18 and the outer bushing sleeves 20 of the two roller bearings are kept at a distance from each other each by way of a spacing sleeve 22. A lock nut 24 which may be screwed by its internal threading onto a matching external threading on the spindle 10 serves to fasten the two roller bearings 14 by way of their inner bearing shells 18 on the front end section 12 of the spindle 10. The rear end section 26 of the spindle 10 extends through a hollow shank 28 formed on the spindlehead housing 16 and is connected to one of the front surfaces of the latter by way of its free end. A standardized pinhole 30 and the hollow shank 28 in question are designed so that the latter may be introduced into a tool receptacle as specified in DIN 69880. The geared end section 32 of the spindle 10 projecting beyond the hollow shank 28 may be coupled with a drive shaft (not shown) for driving the spindle 10 and accordingly the tool.

[0020] The end section 12 of the spindle 10 contains, for example, a conventional chuck for the shank of a tool (not shown), such as one in the form of a drill. This tool is preferably one with an inner coolant channel. If the shank of the tool has been fully inserted into the chuck and connected to the spindle 10 rigidly and tightly to the chuck, the front end of an internal coolant feed channel 34 communicates with a central chucking space 36, so that, when a tool is inserted, a fluid conducting connection exists between the internal coolant feed 34 and the internal coolant channel of the tool. In this way the tool can be suitably supplied with coolant during machining.

[0021] The coolant feed line 34 in question is part of a coolant transmission system designated as a whole as 38 and having several sections of coolant channels 40, 42, 44. The internal coolant transmission system 34 with its associated channel sections 42 and 44 is in turn separated from the drainage system 46, 48, and 50 by way of a sealing device with throttling point designated as a whole as 52. The sealing device 52 consists essentially of two sealing rings 54 and 56; the sealing ring 56 shown on the left in the line of sight to FIG. 1 is illustrated in different views in FIGS. 2a, 2 b, and 2 c. In addition, the drainage system and thus the drainage channel with its sections 46, 48, and 50 are under ambient pressure.

[0022] The two sealing rings 54, 56 enclose the actuatable spindle 10 and are guided coaxially with the spindle axis 58 so as to be displaceable longitudinally in the spindlehead housing 16. In addition, the two sealing rings 54, 56 are connected on their sides 60 facing each other to the coolant transmission system in the form of a coolant channel section 40. Coolant channel section 40 discharges into the connection points 62 of the respective ring 54, 56 and is connected to the interior 64 of the respective sealing ring 54, 56 so as to conduct fluid; a radial gap 66 is maintained while the spindle element of the spindle 10 extends through the interior 64 in question.

[0023] The four transverse channel sections, in the form of the channel sections 42 and 44, which extend entirely through the spindle 10, discharge in the area on the end side into the interior coolant feed line 34 for the tool; the coolant channels 42 and 44 extend through the spindle 10 transversely to the longitudinal spindle axis 58, while internal coolant feed line 34 extends along the spindle axis 58 centrally inside the spindle element. Supply of the internal coolant feed line 34 then takes place by way of coolant channel 40 carrying fluid, by way of the annular or radial gap 66 referred to.

[0024] The respective sealing ring 54, 56 is provided on its external circumference with an engagement groove 68 (FIG. 2b) in which a conventional sealing O-ring 70 is engaged as flexible sealing means. When the two sealing rings 54, 56 are installed, they rest on the spindlehead housing 16 in such a way that a restoring force is applied to the sealing rings 54, 56, a force which tends to keep these rings together by way of the respective side 60. The throttling point of the sealing device 52 is made up of lubricant pouches 72 in the case of the individual sealing rings 54, 56, which pouches are in the form of recesses in the plane frontal side 74 and form a fluid-conducting connection, coolant-conducting in particular, in the direction of the longitudinal spindle axis 58 with the radial gap 66 or with the interior 64 of the respective sealing ring 54, 56.

[0025] As is to be seen especially in FIG. 2c, there are six lubricant pouches 72 mounted diametrically opposite each other present for a sealing ring 54, 56. The two frontal sides 74 spaced a distance from each other form limiting surfaces, as viewed in the line of sight to FIG. 1, the left limiting surface 74 of the sealing ring 56 adjoins the flange-like widening of a bushing 76, which is held in position on the second end section 26 of the spindle 10 by a threaded element 78; the free spacing of the sealing rings 54, 56 relative to each other and to the first end section 12 of the spindle 10 may be adjusted by modifying the feed travel of the bushing 76.

[0026] In addition, the bushing 76 is mounted on its external circumference in the spindlehead housing 16 by way of another seal 80. Since the two sealing rings 54, 56 thus have prescribable play axially between the flange-like widening of the bushing 76 and a mounting shoulder 82 of the spindle 10, the lubricant pouches 72 form, by way of the respective limiting surface 74 of the sealing rings 54, 56, a desirable leakage point by way of which the coolant delivered through the radial gap 66 may be discharged into the drainage channels 46, 48 and 50. An additional second seal 84 is present between spindlehead housing 16 and first end section 12 of the spindle 10 so that no coolant can move in the direction of the spindle bearing 14 by way of the leakage point, which discharges into the coolant channel 46.

[0027] For the sake of better understanding, the operation of the sealing device 52 will now be described in detail on the basis of a practical embodiment. In order to guarantee operation, first the coolant channel section 40 is to be connected to a coolant supply by way of the pin hole 30. Once connection has been made to the coolant feed device 40 and suitable pressure has been built up in the coolant channel 40, the sealing rings 54, 56 held together by the sealing O-rings 70 are moved apart; additional fluid pressure is built up by way of the radial gap 66 and is then established in the lubricant pouches 72 of the limiting surfaces 74. Because of the floating arrangement of the sealing rings 54, 56 in the spindlehead housing 16, a dynamic equilibrium is established for these rings and they are conducted more or less free of friction either against each other or against the bushing 76 or the support shoulder 82 of the spindle 10. Consequently, the spindle 10 can transfer high speeds and torque to the machining tool without exertion of a harmful effect on the sealing device 52.

[0028] The leakage flow of coolant referred to can be forwarded by way of drainage channel sections 46, 48, and 50 and from their discharged into the open. Additional longitudinal coolant channels (not shown) may be present in order to feed large amounts of coolant under pressure directly to the tool from the exterior. If the coolant feed over channel 40 is interrupted, the two sealing O-rings 70 force the sealing rings 54, 56 back and, in addition to the radial gap 66, an axial gap is formed between the respective limiting surfaces 74 and the facing sides of bushing 76 and bearing shoulder 82 of the spindle 10. In this configuration it would then also be possible to carry out dry machining with the spindlehead, since the spindle 10 is in such a case controlled so as to be free of contact in the sealing rings 52, 54. A process of hydrostatic lubrication is otherwise accomplished with the layout referred to.

[0029] Since all the sealing systems are mounted behind the spindle bearing 14, the latter may be mounted far forward in the spindlehead housing 16 in the direction of the tool holding fixture. Consequently, the first or front end section 12 of the spindle 10 moves in the area of engagement of the tool; this permits high machining accuracy with the tool. Release of the cover element 86 of the spindlehead housing 16 also permits immediate access to the bearing points, this being advantageous especially in assembly and maintenance operations. The cover element itself is provided with a sealing unit 88 which seals the interior of the spindle bearing 14 from the exterior, the sealing unit 88 in turn enclosing the spindle 10 radially from the exterior on its front end.

[0030] The sealing device 52 is in the form of a kind of plane seal; as viewed in the longitudinal direction this results in very short installation lengths for the spindlehead. 

1. A spindlehead for tools which may be inserted into a tool disk with holders provided for this purpose and whose chucking means for the spindle (10) holding the shank of the tool is rotatably mounted in a second section (26) adjacent to the first end section (12) receiving the tool shank, with a spindle bearing (14), and with a coolant feed line (34) guided at least in part in the spindlehead housing (16), coolant transfer for the respective tool being effected by way of at least one coolant channel (40, 42, 44) which applies an internal coolant feed (34) to the respective tool by way of a sealing device (52) with throttling point separated from parts of a drainage channel (46, 48, 50) and the sealing device (52) having at least one seal (54, 56) which encloses the spindle (10), characterized in that the respective sealing ring (54, 56) is introduced into the spindlehead housing (16) so as to be longitudinally movable coaxially with the spindle axis (58), and in that, after longitudinal movement into a sealing position, the respective sealing ring (54, 56) separates the coolant feed (34) from the parts of the drainage channel (46, 48, 50) which may be associated with it, up to a leakage amount which may be specified.
 2. The spindlehead as specified in claim 1, wherein the sealing device (52) has two sealing rings (54, 56) the sealing surfaces of which are positioned opposite the spindlehead housing (16) on the front sides facing away from each other.
 3. The spindlehead as specified in claim 2, wherein the two sealing rings (54, 56) are connected to the coolant feed on their sides (60) facing each other.
 4. The spindlehead as specified in claim 2 or 3, wherein each sealing ring (54, 56) has on its external circumference an elastic sealing means (70) which, resting on the spindlehead housing (16), exerts a restoring force on the sealing rings (54, 56) which tends to hold such rings together.
 5. The spindlehead as specified in one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the throttling point for the sealing rings (54, 56) is in the form of lubricant pouches (72) which form a leakage point on their front on the separated limiting surfaces (74) of the sealing rings (54, 56) for passage of coolant.
 6. The spindlehead as specified in claim 5, wherein the respective leakage point discharges into the drainage channel (46, 48, 50), which extends to the exterior from the spindlehead housing (16), at least on the tool side.
 7. The spindlehead as specified in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sealing device (52) encloses the spindle (10) on the side facing away from the tool shank and beyond the engaging spindle bearing (14) on the first end section (12).
 8. The spindlehead as specified in one of claims 1 to 7, wherein additional seals (80, 84) are present in the longitudinal direction of the spindle (10) upstream and downstream from the sealing device (52), and wherein one of these additional seals (84) seals the spindle bearing (14) from the sealing device (52).
 9. The spindlehead as specified in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sealing device (52) also makes dry operation without coolant possible for tool machining.
 10. The spindlehead as specified in one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the coolant feed (40), emerging radially from the spindlehead housing (16), may be connected to a central supply source or to a pinhole (30). 